Momentum & collisions worksheet with answers

Free printable Momentum & collisions worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
700 kg5 m/s900 kg

A 700 kg car moving at 5 m/s runs into a stationary 900 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 700 kgv1 = 5 m/sm2 = 900 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
0.1 kgv = ?

A 0.1 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 100 N for 12 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.1 kgFavg = 100 NΔt = 12 ms
v = m/s
3.Medium
1 kgv = ?10 gh = 19 cm

A 10 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 1 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 19 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 10 gM = 1 kgh = 19 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
4.Medium
4.5 kgv = ?15 gh = 16 cm

A 15 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 4.5 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 16 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 15 gM = 4.5 kgh = 16 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
5.Hard
8 m/s9 m/s

A 0.15 kg ball hits a wall at 8 m/s and bounces straight back at 9 m/s. The contact lasts 50 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.15 kgvin = 8 m/svout = 9 m/sΔt = 50 ms
J = N·s
6.Hard
22 m/s5 m/s

A 0.25 kg ball hits a wall at 22 m/s and bounces straight back at 5 m/s. The contact lasts 5 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.25 kgvin = 22 m/svout = 5 m/sΔt = 5 ms
J = N·s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = 2.188 m/s
  2. 2. v = 12 m/s
  3. 3. v = 195 m/s
  4. 4. v = 533.3 m/s
  5. 5. J = 2.55 N·s
  6. 6. J = 6.75 N·s

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